We are going to France in November and do not want to stay in Paris. We are interested in getting an air BnB and doing day trips. We are thinking Rouen because of the transportation connections and also the cultural activities offered in the evening( symphony and opera) plus we would like to see Bayeux and Mont St. Michel. We will be in France for 7 nights and we are open to any suggestions you may have as a base city. It just needs easy access from CDG and then cultural opportunities. Thanks!!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Rouen has easy, direct trains to/from Paris but not from CDG; you still have to go into Paris to St. Lazare station (taxi costs 50 euros flat fee).
Rouen to Bayeux takes 2h 15m with change of trains in Caen (but watch for reduced schedules on Sundays - maybe no trains before noon).
Rouen to Mont St. Michel takes 5 hours and two connections by train. Options by bus may not be much better. MSM is very crowded with day-trippers, so staying overnight is the best way to experience it without the crowds.
Bottom line is that I would prefer to move to a new hotel for each location. Also I have only driven on my visits to Normandy (either with a rental car or on Rick's bus tours) because it seemed most flexible and convenient at the time.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2088 posts
If you want to use Rouen as a base for daytrips to interesting places like Étretat a car is to prefer. As there stops no train too the same for Honfleur and Beuvron-en-Auge on the way to Caen.
Posted by
Savannah, GA
1384 posts
Hello,
I spent all last summer in Rouen. I am French teacher, so I took some classes to keep my teaching up to date. While there I stayed at a cozy Airbnb during my month there and several day trips. We did Etretat by renting a car and I did Caen (via train) for a long weekend.
At the end of my trip I took a bus to Honfleur for 3 days and then a bus to Le Havre for 3 more days before heading to Paris.